A few photos from our Puerto Rico golf vacation!

Two golf carts enjoying the day and the scenery at the 12th hole at Palmas Del Mar Golf Club

Members of our fivesome (?) on the 12th hole at the exquisite Palmas del Mar Golf Club include (from left to right):  Steve Ellis, Federico Diner, Stacy Solomon, Barry Solomon and Rob Hayashida

On board the exquisite Dinamar Yacht after a great lunch at the Yacht Club at Palmas Del Mar.

 There were so many great picture opportunities for Bahia Golf and Beach Resort (an ecological wonder) that I have selected a few here and will post the remainder on Flickr. A St. Regis Hotel is currently being built on the property (opening October 2010) and will only stand two stories high with great views and a southern feel!

The Gran Melia is a five-star luxury all-suite Resort located in Rio Grande, Puerto Rico. Views abound and for those vacationers who rarely see palm trees, you will never want to leave!

The pool at Gran Melia PR is one of the largest on the isla de encanta and the Wet Bar serves up an excellent mojito!

So many beautiful aspects to the Gran Melia Puerto Rico, from the Gardens to the Beach. Here are a few more pictures of this luxury resort!

The Gran Melia transforms at night and takes on a very romantic feel. I was told that there is a person who has the specific task each night of lamp lighter for all of the candles within the Resort that cast a magnificent glow!

A Grand View at Sunset from the Beach at Gran Melia in Puerto Rico. 

There are top quality, ecologically-friendly golf courses nearby: Bahia Golf Club, Palmas del Mar (I would mention Rio Mar in more detail but we played seven holes in a downpour) with Trump International PR as this Resort's next door neighbor. Although the Puerto Rico Open prevented us from playing here, the experience was well worth it!)

Delicious food (yes, I do have picture of some of the meals, just ask), sunsets like this and a warm welcome from the staff of the Gran Melia (and El Coqui) make you feel like Puerto Rico is truly the isla de encanta!

Gran Melia is Puerto Rico's Shining "Five" Star of the Caribbean

At a cocktail reception held Friday evening in the lobby of Puerto Rico's luxurious Gran Melia Resort, we engaged in conversation with General Manager Hendrick Santos. Barry casually mentioned that the hotel staff always has a smile and maintains a pleasant attitude whenever we have been in their presence. Being reasonably well-travelled within the US and the Caribbean, we noticed this friendly warmth at Gran Melia more so than at other resorts in which we have stayed and believed it important enough to make mention of it.

As you can see from the pictures, we were excited to be asked to say a few words about this to the housekeeping staff, to let them know that guests really do see and take mental note of the attitude of the resort in which they stay. There are many beautiful retreats in the world but it is uncommon to find such hospitality as we found here at the Gran Melia in Puerto Rico.

Robert Berkowitz, Director of Group Sales, was among the gathering this morning. We asked if there were plans to upgrade the natural beach surrounding the property to a soft, silky sand.  He told us that the Puerto Rican government has finally given permission and approvals to extend and improve the beach area depth to twenty feet and complement the very large pool areas of the hotel.  This project should be completed by April 2011.

GranMelia is now a "preferred" hotel with a newly earned five-star designation. Well deserved.

After a delicious breakfast consisting of bagels and smoked salmon at the Cafe Soleil, we shuttled over to Trump International Golf Course to catch up with the golfers at the end of round two and view the cut line.

Banco Popular invited media for lunch and to watch PGA Tour golfers putt out on eighteen. Although Puerto Rican hopeful, amateur Erick Morales missed the cut, he drew the loudest cheers. Rafael Campos, another up-and coming PR golfer, was also among the crowd.

We're now heading out to the pool, in order to catch the last rays of Puerto Rican sunshine before we fly back to New York.  At the Delta desk, we're going to use a tip we received from an airline employee and ask for a seat upgrade so our bags can fly for free! Costs about the same but at least we'll be comfortable!

Close to the Action at the Puerto Rico Open

By looking at the course and grounds of Trump International Golf Course in Puerto Rico, you would never think that there more than a sprinkle has fallen in the past week.

Mark Stevens at PGA Tour HQ relayed that a total of 6.6 inches of rain fell on Thursday. Five inches of rain fell on the course between Friday, March 5th and Sunday, March 7th. On Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week an additional four-tenths of an inch fell. That's a lot of rain and I hear that New York will be suffering while we're here taking in the great weather.

In stark contrast to Nueva York, the sun is shining brightly today in Puerto Rico, the Shining Star of the Caribbean, and the "tan" index is great. With only two days left to our stay, I wonder when we will return but a good golfer knows to always remain "in the present". With that in mind I will look only as far forward as to the fiesta in the hospitality center tonight, the theme being "El Yunque".

Aside from another morning swim at the incredibly large and glamorous Gran Melia Resort pool complex we had a great almuerzo (lunch) at the Wet Bar overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. While eating at the grill we were surrounded by a variety of players who had just finished their first round and many were commenting that they have never stayed at such a large, beautiful resort as the Gran Melia.

Barry and I also viewed great golf action today along the 14th and 18th holes.

By positioning ourselves at the 18th, we were able to easily move to the 14th tee so we saw great drives, approach shots and putts by Tom Kite and Gustafsson. Barry helped untangle Gustafsson's caddie from his caddie bag and I watched as Gustafson carefully entered his score after his round. This was all as close as if you were a part of the foursome!

Tom Kite hit his drive on eighteen near a palm tree just a few feet from me and, after his great approach to the green (Kite thought it wasn't so great), a fan shouted out, "don't look so upset Tom; you designed it!"

All in all, the golfers are happy to finally play golf. Rumblings of a Monday finish may lessen the number of fans at the course but the Golf Channel will cover the Puerto Rico Open through to its finale so stay tuned!

Puerto Rico Open: day one dampened but the fun goes on!

Round one of the Puerto Rico Open turned out to be an early wash with "unplayable conditions". Although Skip Kendall eagled the first hole at Trump International Golf Course, there is sure to be plenty of action in the coming days. Play resumes tomorrow (Friday morning) at 7:15 am with only a 30 percent chance of rain.

The golfers will be playing "Preferred lies" which is mentioned in the appendix of the official rules of golf. Briefly stated, a player whose ball is in the fairway would be allowed to improve the lie due to weather conditions.

Puerto Rico is a place where you can still have a great time in spite of the weather; a true test of a great vacation destination!

For example, shopping for clothes at Trump's Proshop while waiting for the rain to let up?

Barry and I also had the opportunity to learn more about the island "experience" as well as new and exciting plans for Puerto Rico while speaking with Jaime A. Lopez Diaz, the Executive Director (Minister) of Tourism for Puerto Rico.

One important attraction for main-landers is that Puerto Rico is a territory of the United States which means no passports are required. The very tropical, caribbean feel is evident from the palm trees which sway and crackle in the breeze to the music which defines the island.

Although we played golf at Bahia Beach yesterday (where the Puerto Rico Open qualifiers were held), there are eight courses in this region with a total of twenty-three in Puerto Rico; seventeen which are championship standard.

Upscale hotels and villas are springing up all around the Gran Melia from the Wyndham (set to open in 2011) to the St. Regis, which is located on the Bahia property. The understated elegance all around us makes this area a great value for the dollar.

Sure, we'll be following the golfers at the beautiful Trump International Golf Course but I also hope that we can get in a bit of sightseeing. I understand that El Yunque is one of among twenty-eight nominees as a new "7th Natural Wonder of the World" and that there is life that exists in El Yunque that can be found no where else in the world!

More to come!

Puerto Rico Welcomes Us With Open Arms

Puerto Rico is abuzz this week for the Puerto Rico Open. Trump International Golf Club, right next door to the Gran Melia, is hosting the PGA Tour event. I hear that Donald Trump is staying somewhere on the premises, probably in one of the luxurious beachside villas.

We haven't seen Trump in person yet because, as he was losing to John Daly, we were playing a round of golf at the extraordinary Palmas del Mar.

Barry and I have our own suite at the Gran Melia checking out not only the tournament but also taking in the sites and playing golf on some of the wonderful courses nearby.

Today, we were invited to Bahia Beach and Golf Club. It is one of the most magnificent, tropical/ocean golf courses you would ever wish to play. Each hole has unsurpassed views everywhere you look. The course is challenging and can also be user-friendly, depending upon your choice of tee-box.

We will be updating you throughout the week from the Puerto Rico Open with interesting facts and pictures as we see it, both on Golf for Beginners and through Twitter. We hope you enjoy our coverage.

Why the Puerto Rico Open is "Must See TV"

Both the Puerto Rico Open and the WGC-CA Championships are being played this week but Doral doesn't quite hold the same "mystique" as in previous years.

With Tiger Woods opting out of another event on the PGA Tour schedule, fans need excitement and the Puerto Rico Open is an event ready to comply!

Here are just a few reasons to tune in to the 2010 Puerto Rico Open this week:

1. This is the only stop on the PGA Tour that lands in Puerto Rico. In 2009, forty-two year-old Michael Bradley landed an 11-foot birdie putt to seal the deal at the 18th hole on Trump International Golf Club. He will be in the field to defend his win.

2. John Daly received a sponsor's exemption. Expect the Lion's clothes to match his colorful spirit. As he said on Twitter, "Changing out grips and Gettin Ready for a great Week at the Puerto Rico Open."

3. Check out some of Latin America's finest players: Rafael Campos, Max Alverio and Erick Morales. The PGA Tour is not all about Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson and Steve Stricker, now is it?

4. Champions Tour golfers Tom Pernice Jr. and Fred Funk will be in the field. Let's watch Funk's return after knee surgery I don't think Vijay Singh ever really recovered, do you?

Tom Kite, the course designer of Trump International GC, among other great golfers, will also be in the field.

5. Trump International Golf Club, at 7,526 yards, is one of the longest on the PGA Tour. Scores have been so close in the previous two years of the event which leads to dramatic thrills on the 18th green. Views of El Yunque Rain Forest and the Atlantic Ocean are breathtaking!

Puerto Rico is a 3,350 square mile Commonwealth of the USA. Watching this stop on the PGA Tour may just give you the desire to visit the Shining Star of the Caribbean!

The Golf Channel will cover the event from Thursday through Sunday. Check your local listings.

Golf for Beginners will also be on hand in Puerto Rico! Follow along with Golf4Beginners and PuertoRicoOpen on Twitter!

Surely you cannot miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez smacking his ceremonial first tee shot! I wonder if he'll be swinging his golf club like a sword...